In a pre-poll strike in Chhattisgarh on Thursday, Naxals triggered an IED blast on a bus in the state’s Dantewada district. At least four persons have been killed in the attack.

Raipur: In a big attack just four days ahead of November 12 phase one election in Chhattisgarh, Naxals triggered an improvised explosive device (IED) on a bus in the state’s Dantewada district on Thursday. The incident took place in a hilly area in Bacheli in Dantewada.

Four civilians and a personnel of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) were killed in the attack that took place near curve no six on the hills. Two CISF personnel were also injured in the explosion and have been admitted to a hospital.

Reports said the Maoists targeted a bus that had been deployed for election duty in the district. Dantewada Superintendent of Police Abhishek Pallava said that the troops were going back to their camp in Akashnagar after buying groceries from the market when the blast took place.

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Among the civilians killed in the blast included the driver of the bus, the conductor, the cleaner and another person who is yet to be identified. The CISF jawan belonged to the unit that is in the district for the first phase of the upcoming polls on November 12.

Reinforcements were rushed to the attack site and security forces launched a combing operation in hunt down the attackers.

Visuals from Chhattisgarh: 3 civilians and 1 CISF personnel died in the incident where naxals triggered a blast on a bus near Bacheli in Dantewada. Visuals from the hospital. pic.twitter.com/lRMjW26aSw

Chhattisgarh is holding Assembly Elections in two phases - on November 12 and November 20. In the first phase, Naxal-affected constituencies in the Bastar region are going to polls. Results will be out on December 11.

The attack came a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi travels to Chhattisgarh’s Jagdalpur district, about 100 km from Dantewada, on Friday to campaign for the BJP.

Chhattisgarh Naxal attack: Out to buy groceries, CISF jawan and 4 civilians killed in Dantewada bus blastDescription:In a pre-poll strike in Chhattisgarh on Thursday, Naxals triggered an IED blast on a bus in the state’s Dantewada district. At least four persons have been killed in the attack.Times Now